Spring 2025 - GEOG 333 D100

Climate Crisis: Understanding a World on Fire (4)

Class Number: 4401

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    A minimum of 45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the fundamental social and human-geographical dimensions of climate change: the ideas, tools, and institutions through which human communities and institutions are responding (or not) to the challenges of a warming planet.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will give students a broad introduction to the fundamental social and human-geographical dimensions of climate change. The goal is to help students understand our best estimates of where we are right now with respect to planetary climate change—politically, ecologically, and economically—what has been suggested we might do about the current crisis, and how to analyze the options. In particular, it will have two main themes: (a) examining the tools, like economic analysis and forecasting, that we use despite enormous uncertainty to understand climate change and anticipate its effects; and (b) understanding existing and proposed institutions, technologies, and forms political organization that might allow us to address the political-economic, ecological, and social challenges posed by climate change. All of this will be grounded in a concern for distributional impacts, both within and between nation-states.

Note: There will be no tutorials during the first week of class.

Grading

  • Book review 20%
  • Report from the future 40%
  • Participation/tutorial 25%
  • In class writing 15%

NOTES:

Evaluation (tentative)

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Selected articles circulated by the instructor or available free through SFU Library 1 book for review, chosen from a list.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.